Watch balance testing apparatus and magazine therefor



y 5, 1949 ,w. KOHLHAGEN 2,474,947 WATCH BALANCE TESTING APPARATUS AND MAGAZINE THEREFOR 1 Filed April 13, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet l W. KOHLHAGEN WATCH BALANCE TESTING APPARATUS July 5, 1949.

AND MAGAZINE THEREFOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 13, 1944 w. KOHLHAGEN WATCH BALANCE TESTING APPARATUS AND MAGAZINE THEREFOR July 5, 1949.

Filed April 13, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 5, 1949. w. KOHLHAGEN WATCH BALANCE TESTING APPARATUS AND MAGAZINE THEREFOR Filed April 13, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Maw QM y 1949- w. KOHLHAGEN 2,474,947

WATCH BALANCE TESTING APPARATUS AND MAGAZINE THEREFOR Filed April 13, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 5, 1949. w. KOHLHAGEN 2,474,947

WATCH BALANCE TESTING APPARATUS AND MAGAZINE THEREFOR Filed April 13, 1944 e Sheets-Sheet e #7, A $5 4% gmmm rm WWW/A 7lllllllllllllllll lllllllllll Patented July 5, 1949 WATGHBALANCE'TESTINGtAPPARATUSAND. MAGAZINE THEREEOR- Walter- Kohlhagen, Elgin, 111., assignoneto, Eight; 9

National Watch Company Elgirn, IIl.-,,-,.a coreporation oflllinois.

Application AprillS, 1944",serial' Noi- 53m876.'

13 Claims. 1,

This invention relatesto-improvements in apparatus for; testingawatch balances, and like, devices, where its-is desirable; toyavoid manual .-,contact with sensitive elements, and where. it is necessary to provide gfor:placing the elementsindividually. into testing; mechanisms, securing, a test thereon,.and then-, withdrawing the tested element.and:replacing-;itby a further element to be tested.

One of the features ofthe present invention is the, provision of any apparatus including a rotatable tray. forsupportingsa plurality of the devices ,to be ,tested-,--,means-;for indexing thev tray for successively,presenting the devices for testing, and supportsvjfor hold-ingthe device during the test, together with inter-associated means for cyclically coordinating thesuccessivemovemerits of the partsincident to the positioning and testing.

Another featureof the-invention is the provision of a tray which will receive a plurality. of watch balances or, likedevices in peripherally spaced positions, and-whichcanbe-handled as a unit fromaloading operator to a testingoperator for employment in the testingapparatus, and then taken from thetesting; apparatus as aiunit.

Afurther featureof the, invention is theprovision of an apparatus. having. locating; means for receiving a separable loadingtrayand effective for successively indexing. the loading tray and alternating therewith. motions of. parts for bringing the individualidevices, into and from testing position.

Other features 'will'appearin the course of the following-specification andclaims, taken in conjunction withthe drawings which illustrate one form of practicing'the' invention, and comprise:

Figure 1- is a general perspective view of the testing apparatus;

Figure 2 is a plan view-of aloading tray or magazine.

Figure 3= is a side elevation; with a part in diametrical sectionalview; of the loading tray or magazine.

Figure 4 is a top elevation of the lower part-f the apparatus structure; substantiallyon. line i -Moi Figure '7;

Figure 5' is a horizontal sectional viewof" the same substantially on line: 5+5: of Figure 7-.

Figure 6" is a. horizontal: section. through the same, substantially onrline 6+5 of Figurei7f Figure 7 isca-jrontelevation :of the: lower: por tionx; dither-structure; showingicertaim internal partsdmdottedilinesa.

Figure-Bais anrunwrapped'sectioncn a larger scale, taken;fromiaxisvtoraxis;v substantially on the broken aline.z8' --8:.of.;Fligure Figure9; is: a; diagraim showing the layout of certain cams.

Figure 10';is..a.detail.; vie.w, on a large scale, showing a; position-oh the: balance wheel preliminary; to. ztestin i Figure. "11. isgaicorresnonding view; substantially on lines ll-H of Figure 10.

ure 12' isgaapfirspective:viewoi. a rotating member-forth energizingdrive.

The ,apparatusgasz indicated; in the: perspective view" in: Figured; comprisesa base; B3 having sstanding-r therefrom? as, support: S which carries uppen struclilllffisifor mployinent d-uringthe testingrand;calibmtion -oigawatch balance such as abalance;andshainrspringz;assembled as a unit. The loadingtrawI 'IE-ispositioned so that its successive, loading :stationscome beneath the upper StI'llQtLllfQr, A source; of; light, illustrated as a projector -PJ; is -.positioned;at the: rear of the base=Bpandprojects aslight beamlLB against a mirror M'mOUntQdfOD theisupport S, so that the reflected ray LBB, passes throughthe balance and hair: spring; unita whiclrhas been positioned by the -loading tray -L'ljfor testing, and enters the housingJi-Pi containing a; photoelectric cell responsiveto changes imthe illumination produced by -beam;-LBR,-;in accordance with the action of the watch 1 movement: which; is being tested. A valve housinggvHzhas;axnozzle N through which pulsesof: air; may: be idirected at the proper instant-oi phase; andy-i-atthe; necessary condition of 'diminishedz-aniplitudeoi ,motion, for maintaining the watch,balance ;in,-oscillation, for. example, asiset outdnmupo-pending application, Serial No 443,997 filed; May 121, 1 94=2, which matured intorBatent-iNumber: 2 354-954 on August 1, 19-14.

A- first. hand leyemML-sliW S when actuated to efiect: at withdraWal-ofyone balance and hair spring unit:from testingg position;-with an indexingpftheloadingtramll'l and thedelivery of another-balance and h'aigrgspringzunit into testing positions A .second;handdeizen-This employed-.forstoring gyinthe;:unit assembly., and releasing the same for;,-its; testing movement; and. is likewise efiectivexfor,sinitiating;theoperationof testing, as set; out .sinzmy aforesaid :co pending. application and-salsa immy: pplication; Serial. N 0. 439,128, filed: April: 15; ;;1 s2,-;.whichamaturedpinto; Patent Numberi2i 5fii-flfl8 on September; 12., 194%.

The loading tray LT (Figs. 2 and-.3); is, circular iri'.a'f01m,,an& isiprqviclediwithxa:plurality of loading stations or pockets which are each adapted to receive and accurately position a watch balance. For this purpose, a large apertur receives the downwardly projecting staff of the balance, and the balance wheel is seated on a shoulder 2i provided by an enlargement of this aperture. Above the shoulder 2| extends a wall which terminates in an outwardly directed beveled surface 22 serving for guiding the balance wheel into its proper position. It will be understood that the balance wheels may be provided with adjusting screw heads extending from their peripheries in the usual manner, and that the presence of these balancing screw heads is taken into account in determining the proper external diameter for the wall extending upwardly from shoulder 2 I This wall is preferably formed as a circular arc (Fig. 2), but this are is interrupted to provide a notch 23 extending from the periphery of the loading tray LT for the reception of tweezers employed by the operator in placing the unit assemblies in the loading tray or removing them therefrom, so that these unit assemblies may be handled individually while the tray is held in a substantially horizontal position.

At the center of the tray, it is provided with an aperture 24 which is concentric with the edge of the tray and also with the centers of the various apertures 20 provided at the successive stations.

The successive stations do not entirely fill the circumference of the loading tray LT, but a cutout or notch 25 is provided with a loading position at which this loading tray LT may be introduced into the machine without interference with the parts thereof. At the base or inner portion of the notch 25 is provided a narrow extension 26 of this notch for engagement with a locating means for assuring the proper angular position of the loading tray LT in the machine.

The device to be tested may be supported on the shoulder 2| and positioned for tolerable concentricity with the supports 85, I08 described hereinafter by the Wall 22; but in order to assure highly accurate positioning, especially when watch balances of delicate and closely dimensioned structures are to be tested, it is preferred to provide a plurality of pins 21 on the shoulder 2! over each pocket. These pins are illustrated (Figs. 3 and 10) as tapered at their upper ends in order to engage and guide the balance wheel into position. Owing to the presence of the poising screws at the outer periphery and the spokes at the inner periphery of the form illustrated,

the operator can insert and bring the successive balance wheels to proper position by use of tweezers (Fig. 3), and upon slight radial and peripheral movements, each balance is moved until it screws or spokes are clear of the pins, depending upon whether the pins are to engage the outer or inner periphery. In the illustrated form, the pins engage the outer periphery. Thus, in proper position, the rim of the balance wheel rests on the shoulder and is held accurately in concentric and coaxial relation to the axis of the pocket regardless of the position of the poising screw heads or spokes, and hence is ready for accurate presentation to the testing devices. The tops of the pins are illustrated as so far below the upper surface of the tray, 1. e., below the tops of the pockets, that the balance wheel is returned into the pocket instead of assuming a position in which the wheel might be displaced across the top of the tray.

The base B is provided (Fig. 6) with a horitioning disk 52.

zontal shaft 30 at its rearward portion, upon which shaft is loosely mounted for rotation a main driving pulley 3| which serves as a source of power for the mechanical operation of the apparatus. The shaft 30 also supports a clutch 32 by which the pulley I may be coupled to the shaft 30. This clutch is actuated by a lever 33 which in turn is moved to engaging position by a rod 34 which extends transversely in the machine for engagement by a depending arm 35 (Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6 and '7) secured to the rock shaft 39 to which the hand lever ML is connected.

The shaft 35 has a worm 40 thereon engaged with the worm wheel 4| (Figs. 6 and 8) mounted on a cam nest, as will be described hereinafter, supported on a fixed pivot shaft 42.

The cam nest comprises a face cam member 65 having two face cams 46, 4'! on the upper surface thereof.

The face cam 46 engages a projection 48 of a vertically movable quill 49 guided in the base E for reciprocating the rotary motion, and carried in the sleeve 50 which itself is rotatable in the base B and carries a worm wheel 5! and a posi- The upper end of the quill 49 carries a table 54 having an upstanding concentric column 55 with a tapered upper end. This column 55 is of a diameter to closely receive the walls of the aperture 24 in the loading tray LT and therewith accurately position the same for rotation. A securing nut 56 is threaded upon the upper end of the quill 49 and serves to maintain the loading tray LT in position. The sleeve 59 carries a locating pin 58 which extends upwardly through an aperture in the table 54 and has a beveled end of an arcuate width equilavent to the width of the notch extension 26 whereby to locate the loading tray LT accurately with respect to the positioning plate 52.

A spring 59 positioned in an annular cavity of the sleeve 50 exerts a downward effort upon the quill 49 for returning the same into its lowermost position when so permitted by the face cam 58.

The cam 46 has two humps which serve to raise the tray twice during each cycle of movement. When the cam is at rest, the tray is lowered and, if a unit assembly has been at this station of the tray, this assembly is supported above the tray, by means described hereinafter, in condition for testing. As the cam turns, the first hump (marked as the receiving hump on the drawing) causes the tray to raise until the top of the peripheral wall is above the bottom of the balance wheel so that the latter can be guided to its lowered position, but when the pins 2? are employed, it is preferred to have this receiving hump lower than the second or delivering hump, so that the tops of the pins are not brought into contact with the peripheral balance screws if aligned therewith. Thus no injury occurs to the assembly, such as bending or breaking of the balance pivot caused by tipping of the wheel upon contact with a pin while the pivot ends are engaged in the testing sup ports.

A pulley 62 fixed on the shaft 30 receives a driving belt 63 passing over the pulley B4 fixed on a front transverse shaft 65 within the base B: this belt-and-pulley drive provides for slipping, so that the shaft 65 is not compelled to turn concurrently with the shaft 30. The shaft 65 carries a worm 66 engaged with the worm wheel 5| for driving the same at times permitted by the power received from the shaft 30, and permitted by; the unlockingsofa-thespositioninaiaplate.

52; as described; hereinafter.

The lower-supporttforxthe balance; wheel .of the;

unit assemblyis moved tupwardlysandzdownwardly by the face cam 1M2 Ajpin misguided for'vertical movement: and. supports 2211318176."! I at. its upper end (Figs. 4,5; 8wand;.1i0) which has. a notch for receiving the. guidepin '12: which .pre-

vents relative 1 rotation; A: scare-13.: is; mounted above the plate. H withzxa driving; member; M positioned therebetweem. about the axis. of the pin .lorunder'imovement imparted by the-3:1ink l5 which: is: connected. at

itsv other end to: one =arm1l6i0f the, :hand; lever TL, whose other end.11.is,-connected qto-a spring '78 which is effectivefor': normally moving the member M in a; relative"?counterclockwise: direction in Figured, The-limits-ioflrockingmovement of the-lever. TL.areeestablishedaby adjustable stops-l9, 80; (Figure 5);. The-.stops19, 80

are mounted on-the base-r13; by, insulating blocks;

and are electrically connectedstillustratively. in the manner taught in. my.;aforesaidapplications for determining; the operation: of testing; and other devices in propenunison; A shield 82 extends over the gear-l3; and'the-assemblyis see cured-to the plunger; pin .10 by; a; top :nut 83 so.

that the parts will riseand fall togetherin accordance with the prevailingheightpof the. face cam 4'! andis pressed downwardlyabya spring-84.

A lower support pin:85-;ismounted for vertical movement inrthe base:B--and-:.has-:an apertured upper end for. receiving ;the --;lower end.) of the balance assembly. Ashoulder-wngagesagainst the lower face of the plateJl to limit the upward movement of thepin 85 ;.under the urgency of a spring 86; A drive-n-pinion:-;8,1l(Figs. 8, and 12) is rotatableabout the; axis of. the. pin 85 by" its meshing engagement :with the-gear 13, and supports a wire spring; member 88: which permits resiliency relatively aboutrthe. periphery of thepin 85, ,andhas an axially-extending upper end for engagement between.-the.--spokesof the balance wheel asdescribed hereinaften As shown in Figures-=6:and;12,'.theidrivenpinion' 87 receives a cam-piece,Mai-which.istfixedwthereto.

by-a press-fit; and has an edge qcamat its lower surface, comprising a shoulder-R11):- and-a slope,

while the major portion :of theialowerw edge of. the cam-piece 81a is .in;ai.radiai-.p lane.. A pin-i $9 on the plate ll cooperatesrwith thisnedgezacam of the cam-piece 81a.

A support 90 is mounted. at the supper-end of pin 10 for carrying a stripper fingerrel effectivefor detaining the balance; wheel, while; the; supporting structures arebeingloweredrand, thereby assuring that. the balance iszaccurately seated. in its station position; in.- the,;loadinga tray LT after the test has been accomplished...

A pawl 93 is; pivoted .ionszther.friction..rnemberi l and serves,- to; engagefzinzsubstantia'llyi radial: notches in 1 the 1 lower. face/of thee-gear 13 when the link 151 is actuated for;effectingnazmotation of the gear 13.

The locatingtplate: 522 (Fig: 6) has notches-in its periphery which .are'" peripherally spaced; corresponding to' the spacingiofi the loading stations inithe loading tray L'Ia A latchingaspawl -95"- is rockable about a pivot efisofathebase B; and base nose 9! for entering thesenotches i successively.

The .pawl 9.5: is actuatednbya cam #98 of "the cam nests mounted on: shaft 42 (Fig: 8) 1 at-the-beginning of each :cycleof-zindexingwmovementgso thatthe nose 92! is witiidrawmfi'omathe notclritzhas 'Ihisl member rocks.

occupied; ;t'o'; perm-it aminitiali indexing move=-- 75 aavseav:

ment: of" the; shaft .491; and; associatedtstructures:

and thereupon the :cam 98 permits: this: nose to ing :tray LT extends above'xtheipintflfixwhichpros? vides' the: lower support; An: upper bearing: N11? for' the: unit assembly; is carried by. the." support S:(Figs: 1,,6-and10) incoaxial position with the';

lower: bearing provided atsthei'endof pin 85.- A fixed-gripper itll'i's carried adjacentthe-upper bearing H28 in a.rotatablesleevemflwhichcan:

be .turned in either direction'zbyan endwheel H0 A secondgripper HlBd is-pivotally mountedin-th'e sleeve. m9; so thatit can be separated'from. thegripper I08 bydepression of a knob H2. at the top of an vuioperbearing assembly, against the action of:springs I881), Him. The precise-structures for securingthe relative rotation and movementof these structures form no'part of .the presently described invention, and thereforehave not been shown in detail.

In-the operationof the apparatus; aloading: trayLT issupplied with its :quota .of unit assemblies to be tested, and for: this'purpose the operator can engage the individual'balancewheels with, tweezersand insert themupon the loading:

tray, held with its axis substantially vertical, by passing the tweezers through vthe notches 23, and placing each unit sothat .the balancewheel rim restsv upon the bottom of the tray pocket, and

the peripheral screws-are positioned between thepins. These unit assemblies are inserted with the=hair springs HS at the top.

The. loaded tray of untested devices may be inserted into the machine by, bringing the notch 25 opposite the upper and" lower bearings285, 101,

and-fitting the tray upon the upper'column on quilltih The extension 26 ofv notch 25 engages the pro ecting pin 58 for'accurately'positioning:

thetray LT with respect to thelocating-rplate:52: The clamping nut Efiis then engaged.

The pulley 3| receives'powenfrom-rany desired source, the projector lamp PJ and the circuits associated with the photoelectric cell in housing' HP'are energized, and air is delivered in the valve housing VH. The apparatus'is. now ready for accomplishing the testingoffthe unitassemblies on the tray LT.

The operator depresses: thefirst hand lever so; that it movesthe clutcht actuating pin 34-:

towardthe left (Fig; 6) andengagesthe clutch fork lever 33' and causes-the clutch 3 2 to be en gaged; The shaft 36 now begins to turn, andthe worm 4 B initiates rotation ofthe caminest. The

cam46 raises the 11111.49; and lifts the tray LT; then-thecamrt'l lowers the pin 10'(which has been.

in raised positionduringtheplacementaof the tray LT) {and finally the cam.46..lowers-the quilland tray. As, set out above, the.receiving. hump on camfid is not: as high". as the delivering hump.- and hence. the tray is not :raisedinto: full contact" with thebalancewheel; but;instead; pauses below; the wheel so that the=descent10f.. the pin effects 3 depositz-of thezbalancegzand. thisxdeposit may not result in a resting of the wheel rim in the bottom of the tray pocket, as explained, but on all occasions the upper end of the balance staff is below the upper bearing I01, so that the tray and its contents are free to turn. Meanwhile cam 99 is holding the clutch 32 engaged (Fig. 9). These movements are then followed by the action of the cam 98 in moving the latching pawl 95 so that its nose 91 releases the locating plate 52. The belt 63 has meanwhile been slipping, but upon unlatching of the locating plate 52, it begins to drive the pulley 64 so that the shaft 65 turns and the worm wheel 66 causes an indexing movement of the worm wheel 50 and its connected parts. After the locating plate 52 has begun its movement, the latching pawl 95 is permitted by cam 98 to return until its nose 91 rides against the edge of the locating plate. When the locating plate has been turned through the angular distance to the next station, the nose 91 drops into the next notch and thereby brings the locating plate 52 and its connected parts to a standstill in a position at which the next station and its unit assembly is positioned with the balance staff ready for engagement by the bearings 85, I01.

The cam 66 now causes a new raising of the tray LT for effecting engagement of the upper end of the balance stafi of the balance, which has been presented by the tray LT in the upper bearing I01, and shortly thereafter the cam 41 raises the lower bearing 85 so that this is brought into engagement with the lower end of the balance staff. The cam 48 now permits the tray LT to be lowered again, thus leaving the new unit assembly mounted on the bearings 85, I01.

The cam 99 releases the clutch locking pin assembly I530, NH, and the cam next comes to a standstill.

The operator now grips the end of the hair spring HS with tweezers, depresses the knob II2 to separate the grippers I08, IBM, introduces the end of the hair spring between these grippers, and then releases the knob II2 so that they now engage the end of the hair spring. This position of the parts is shown in Figure 10, with the unit assembly comprising the balance wheel BW and balance staff BS mounted in the bearings 85, I01.

The balance wheel BW (Fig. 11) in this illustrative form of practice has two diametrically opposed spokes. The position of these spokes in the apparatus is entirely random at this stage of the operation. The operator then rotates the hand wheel I'll) until the light beam LBR is intersected by one of these spokes while the balance wheel BW is essentially at rest, and thereby obtains an 9 initial positioning of the device at a neutral axis: this positioning may be observed visually, or can be supervised electrically, as taught in my said co-pending application.

The operator now pulls the hand lever TL in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4) against the action of spring 18, thereby causin the link 15 to move the rocker member 14 in a clockwise direction about the axis of pin 10, the pawl 93 slipping during this movement so that the gear 13 remains fixed. The engagement of shoulder 81!) of campiece 81a with pin 39 prevents any movements of gear 13 or pinion 81 during this movement of the hand lever TL. The arcuate movement of the member 14 is limited by the stop 19. During this movement of the lever TL, furthermore, the electrical testing apparatus is energized and set up for service under the conditions taught in my said co-pending applications.

The operator now moves the hand lever TL back again, so that the link 15 is pulled and the member 14 and pawl 93 engage the gear 13 and cause the pinion 81 to be rotated through an angle of 360 degrees before the return movement of the lever TL is limited by the stop 80. During this movement, the cam-piece 81a engages pin 89, and is raised so that the wire pin 88 engages a spoke of the balance wheel BW and causes this balance wheel to be rocked in a counterclockwise direction (Figs. 4 and 11) through an angle of, say 330 degrees. The shoulder 81?) of the cam-piece slips from the pin 89, and the wire pin 88 is now retracted so that the unit assembly is permitted to oscillate under the urgency of the hair sprin HS in which energy has been stored by the aforesaid winding. As the unit assembly oscillates, the passage of the spokes across the path of the light beam LB causes successive interruptions of the light supplied into the photoelectric cell in housing HP, and the rate of the movement can be observed, as taught in my co-pending application Serial No. 439,128, filed April 15, 1942.

If it is found that the movement is too fast or too slow, the operator can bring the movement to a standstill, and release the grippers I08, H181: and move the hair spring to a new position of engagement thereby, so that the effective length of the hair spring is increased or decreased, and further observations then indicate whether the new adjustment gives synchronism with a standard. When this synchronism is attained, it is known that the unit assembly is essentially in proper time, and this position of engagement of the hair spring HS can noW be marked.

The operator releases the hair spring by depressing the knob H2, and the hand lever ML is depressed to effect a new indexing movement. The cam 46 now raises the quill 49 again and lifts the tray LT until it receives the rim of the balance which has just been tested. When the guiding and locating pins 21 are employed, one or more of the poising screws may strike a pin so that the periphery of the balance wheel does not return to flatwise contact with the shoulder 2 I; but this is not harmful because the balance has already been tested and does not need to be returned to supports 85, I08 and the height of the pocket wall 22 above the tops of the pins assures the balance against lateral displacement during testing of the other balances and during subsequent handling of the tray and its contents. The cams 46 and 41 now act to lower the tray LI and the lower bearing 1t concurrently until the balance staff is free of the upper bearing I01. Thereafter the cam 46 holds the tray LT at the predetermined indexing level, while cam 41 continues to effect a lowering of the lower bearing 10 until it is free of the balance staff. The cam 98 now releases the latching pawl again, and the cycle continues. This sequence follows for each of the unit assemblies on the loading tray, with the individual assemblies presented on the bearings 85, I81 for testing, and then removed therefrom and supported on the tray during their indexing.

When all of the assemblies have been tested, the notch 25 returns opposite the testing point. The operator now releases the top nut 56, removes the tray, and places a fresh tray of untested devices in position.

It will be noted that the machine can be employed with watch balances and similar devices which are of such delicate nature that they must be protected against incautious handling. The employment of the removable tray permits a loading operator to fill the tray by employment oftweezers, and thenthe' t'ray is transmitted to the testing operator, who,- has'*- no-= occasion to manually touch the balance-Tor other" device as an incident ofbringing? it into properly supported position fortestingand' needonly, in the illustrated form'of the'invention, engage the hair spring of a watch balance-in the grippers I08,

lilac. When thetesting-oi all devices on the tray has been completed, these-deviceshave been restored to positions on the' tray, and the tray can be taken from the testing=machineas a unit and thus delivered to the assembling :operators who insert thebalances-or. other deviceszin the mechanisms for which they areintendecL The particular form of" tray islof great advantage inisuchtservice; asvit-p'rovides adequate pro tection' to: the sensitive-parts? and yet, by-the presence of the-1 notches 23;;permits' the effective employment of tweezers and; normal. movements for inserting: and removingithe individual balances. The notch 25 *notyonly'serves as a preliminary guide while -settingrtheztray in position in the. testing machine to :assure that the locating-pin 58 will properly engage-in the inner notch-26, butlalsospermitsrthemovement of the tray into position, without interference with or by the uppersupportwmember, I01 or the -lower support member 85 .with.itshwindingaspring extension 88;

It" is obvious that the invention may, be -employed inother ways within .thescope. of the appended claims;

I claimz 1. A testing machine for watch balances and.

frictionaldrive operated by said main drive and connected-to. said rotatable -member for rotating the. same, latching means-controlled by the cam nest for deta'iningsaid rotatable member in any one of a number of stations'each corresponding to presentation of. a said device-in position for testing, and means. controlledby the cam nest while the latching element" is'iin detaining position forcausingwthe. device positioned fortest= ing to be freed from the tray preparatory to testing and to 'be held in such free position during testing and also for causing the device to be restored to the tray prior to the succeeding release of said latch element.

2. A machine as in claim 1, in which the rotatable member includes a rotatable element upon which is mounted said interengageable element, an axially movable element actuated from the cam nest, and means on said axially movable element for supporting said tray for axial movement while engaged with said interengageable element and thereby held in a predetermined relative angular position on the rotatable element.

3. A machine as in claim 1, including a relatively fixed support member for the device, and in which the latter means controlled by the cam nest includes an axially movable table, a support member movable with the table and engageable in its moved position with the device which is positioned for test for thereby moving the same into testing position relative to the fixed support member,

4: "A testing machine for: watch balances, comprising a tray-rotatableabout a vertical axis and having portions for accurately positioning; a plurality of devices =angularlyaboutits periphery;

i an upper relativelyfixed support-"for receiving the upper end of-the balances;a rotatable member-forreceivingthe' -tray; locating means cooperatively positi'oned 'onthe-tray and on said rotatable member for maintaininga predetermined relative angular position; a main drive and means: for intermittently "effecting operation of the same, a frictional driveoperated -by said main drive and connected to said" rotatable member for-giving: the-.samearotary index-ingmovement,

acam nest driven positively-by said main drive,

latching means controlled by the 'cam nest for detaining said rotatable -member-in any one of a number "of indexed-stations each corresponding to presentation of a said-devicein position for H testing. a movable. lower support member; andmeans control-ledibw thei'cam nest for raising the tray and": said lower-support? member in unison and thereby? engaging aeselected device with the upper support; member and thereafter being effective for loweringitthei trayand ther'eby freeing the selecteddevicezttherefrom.-and leaving the same in position on: the. upper. and lower support-members;

fective for lowering the:tray-andfthelower support; in. unison: and for withdrawing. the

lower support memberzgfromflthe-a device l which has been tested wherebyr'to: fr,ee.=--.the.i device .and tray for an indexing movementio'fi thetray;

6; Altesting machine:foitewatch balances, comprising a traygrotatable'labout a rve'rtical axis and having:portionsfors'accurately. positioning a plurality of, balancesa. rotatable) member for receiving the itray, interengageablel locatingelements on the tray. and xrotatabl'eimember' for maintaining the samegin a'predeterminedflrelative angularxposition; a mainrdriveizand meansfor inter mittently. effecting: operation of: thesame, a cam nest driven positively by said main drive, a fric-- tional-driveoperated :by saidamain drive'and con- H nected to :saidirotatablet memberi'forrotating the same, latching means controlledrby: the cam nestfor detaining said rotatable member in any one of a number of stations each corresponding to presentation of a said balance in position for w testing, a lower support member, means controlled by the cam nest for lifting said lower support member into engagement with a selected balance and bringing the same into position for testing, a rotatable piece having an axially projecting spring element for engaging between spokes of the balance, means for rotating said piece and thereby moving the spring for storing energy in the hair spring of the balance, said piece including a further cam for producing an initial axial movement of the spring into position for engaging the spokes, followed by a return axial movement thereof whereby to release the balance for oscillation upon said support member.

7. A machine as in claim 6, in which the means for rotating said piece includes a gear, a friction member for rotating said gear in one direction, and means included in the structure for preventing a reverse rotation of said piece.

8. A machine as in claim 6, in which the said piece is rotated by a gear, and including a lever connected to a rockable member, said rockable member being engageable for moving said gear in one direction and for returning in the opposite direction without moving the gear, means for limiting the retrograde movement of said rotatable piece, and adjustable stops for determining the arcuate stroke of said rockable member.

9. A machine for handling watch balances and like rotatable devices, comprising a rotatable tray having spaced peripheral portions for accurately positioning a plurality of the devices and including locating means, a rotatable member for receiving the tray and including an element interengageable with said locating means, cyclically operative cam elements and means eiiective to drive the same in cycle, a member controlled by the cam elements and effective to interrupt the driving of said cam elements upon completion of a cycle, latching means actuated by the cam elements for detaining said rotatable member in any one of a number of stations each corresponding to presentation of a said peripheral portion in a predetermined position with a device therein, means controlled by the cam nest effective while the latching means is in detaining position for causing the presented device to be removed from the tray, and means effective for initiating a cyclic movement of the cam elements, said cam elements being effective also to cause the device to be restored to the tray prior to the succeeding release of said latching means.

10. A removable indexable tray for a testing machine for watch balances, comprising a plate having a central aperture by which the same may be mounted for indexing movement in the testing machine, said plate having a plurality of equi-distant pockets each adapted to receive and maintain the position of a watch balance, each of the pockets having associated therewith a notch extending to the periphery of the tray for the passage of tweezers employed in positioning and removing the balance therefrom, a further notch being provided in the tray for reception of a locating member of said machine for determining the angular position of the tray therein. 7

11. A removable indexable tray for a testing machine for watch balances, comprising a plate having a central aperture by which the same may be mounted on an indexing shaft of the testing machine, said plate having adjacent its periphery a plurality of equi-distant openings extending through the plate and providing pockets at one face each adapted to receive a watch balance, said openings each affording access from the other face of the plate for balance-holding means in the testing machine effective to remove a positioned balance from its pocket at the said one face, a notch being provided in the periphery of the tray for reception of a locating member carried in rotation with the indexing shaft for determining the angular position of the tray in said testing machine.

12. An indexable tray for a testing machine for watch balances, comprising a circular body having means for angularly-located and concentrio attachment to the machine, said body having a plurality of equi-distant concentricallyarranged pockets, each pocket having a shoulder below the upper surface of the body for receiving the rim of the corresponding balance wheel, and each pocket having a wall upstanding above the shoulder means a distance greater than the thickness of the balance rim, and a plurality of locating devices at each pocket for engaging a periphery of the corresponding balance wheel and maintaining the same in a predetermined position for accurate concentric presentation to the testing machine.

13. An indexable tray as in claim 12 in which the locating devices are pins having tapered upper ends terminating below the top of the pocket.

WALTER KOHLHAGEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,319,740 Wickstrom Oct. 28, 1919 1,547,733 Chamberlain July 28, 1925 1,648,660 Peters Nov. 8, 1927 2,300,361 Reynolds Oct. 2'7, 1942 2,321,548 Hanneman June 8, 1943 2,355,092 Meister Aug. 8, 1944 2,358,078 Kohlhagen Sept. 12, 1944 2,393,246 Hallowell Jan. 22, 1946 

